A London-based priest who is presently working in Syria has told the BBC that that "fear is very high" in the nation.
The Rev Nadim Nassar, who is based in his home city Latakia, said in an interview with the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it feels at times "like the whole city has closed down because people are scared to leave their homes".
“On Sunday, you could hear a lot of shooting and bombing from different parts of the city,” he added.
“The whole city is now shut. The fear is very high, and people don’t know what’s going on and what is next.”
The crackdown by the Syrian government began last weekend after anti-government protests in the city. A day later, tanks surrounded the city while Syrian warships fired shells into populated areas, according to activists. Around 30 people have been killed in the city and government forces stand accused of shooting at women and children trying to escape.
The Syrian government denies that civilians are targets and claim that they are confronting armed terrorist gangs.
The Rev Nadim Nassar is the director of the Awareness Foundation, a charity that aids Christians to “make sense of their faith and culture in the 21st century, and to increase their awareness of their neighbours’ faiths and cultures”.
Canon Jim Rosenthal, communications director of the Awareness Foundation, said: “He has spoken of feeling almost imprisoned in his house. There is also a considerable lack of electricity.
"Naturally, we are deeply concerned for his family and are all praying he and his sister Huda will return safe and well."